DJ Icey

DJ Icey's breakbeat funk helped jump-start the increasingly fertile dance scene in and around Orlando, FL, during the '90s. Born and raised in the Sunshine State, Icey first got into music via early-'80s synth pop, industrial, and hip-hop. The boom in club music during the late '80s hooked him as well, and when he began DJing early in the '90s, he usually played out acid house and funky breaks. He gained a residency at The Edge, one of Orlando's seminal clubs, and soon began playing farther afield thanks to the burgeoning U.S. dance underground. (The club later went under, though not before hosting the Chemical Brothers' first American appearance, an invite extended by Icey himself.) When British DJ and longtime A&R kingpin Pete Tong heard an early single produced for Icey's own Zone Records in 1996, he signed the big-beat precursor Galaxy Breaks to his ffrr label. Even while spinning in several cities per week, DJ Icey managed to produce a good dozen singles per year for Zone, usually out of his studio in Orlando. His first major mix set, 1997's The Funky Breaks, was followed one year later by his full-length production debut Generate. Following in the footsteps of notable DJs from Tong to Fatboy Slim, DJ Icey released a volume in the Essential Mix series in 2000. Three years later, DJ Icey returned with his slickest breakbeat effort to date. Different Day appeared on System in March 2003. ~ John Bush

Been a grove kid with mike and Jeff mojo and razz and Icey always has and will be yThe godfather of breaks his 16 beat combination have so many intersyncernices from match bass disables ,to inter twining high hats and snare that threw the pause thre beat when mixe with another Icey record the empty spots all fill the gaps so you never know the transition absolutely perfect at its finest it's like a 1000 piece musicj jigsaw puzzle the every piece and bend fit perfect to great an epic picture wh

Icey is a god. He pioneered a new genre of music, and i was there to experience it. Baby Anne, Sharaz, FBI, Rick West, Santana, etc. Some of the best nights of my life dancing my a** off all night at his shows. Im getting chills just thinking back.. If you were in Florida breaks scene in the late 90's...you know what a magical time it was. LMAO..600 north? Wow, i swear i thought that place was gonna collapse one new years eve. So over capacity. Firestone then cyberzone were my favs

I saw Lenny Cravits get hit in the face with a shoe at The Edge. He stumbled back into the drum set. When he returned to the mike he said, I'll do anything for you people, just don't throw s**t at me. and he picked up where he left off. Are you going my way? Blind Melon headlined, glad i had the importunity to see them. I was a bartender at 600 North in Daytona when Dj Icey spun there, the place was bustin at the seams.

sweated through a pair o jeans at the edge(many times) and when I got a gig runnin lights at a club in Atlanta Icey let me sit in the booth and watch his guy run lights. He's amazing and I thank him for bein nice to a nobody....O-Town G

what the heck? love you, man, im 54 and you make me happy. Look, i raised 5 humans that 3 r musicians. seriously, your music helped raise my babies since i was 20. thank you for being part of the beat. love every year. Debi

Icey is the proud son of FL's underground movement in the 90's. Those of us who were there remember the great times of a pure movement and great music. It's nice to see one of FL's best make it long after the era ended. From 92-98 there was no scene like the one in FL (Tampa-Orlando-Cocoa) even down to SFL Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.

Back when I was a club kid, I used to eat up Icey, Anne, Sharpe, Merlyn and Jackal & Hyde in FtL, Miami and G-Ville. But let's be honest: without Ecstasy, DJ Icey is flipping burgers and Florida Breaks does not exist as a genre.

6 years ago

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mrice239

Great times at the edge, most remembered, no reason to get messed up to appreciate the beats...love the breaks!

Icey is gonna be playing at VUE in Augusta,Ga on 9-4-10! I have seen him play hundreds of times all over the southeast and in my book he is the definition of breakbeat science! Cant wait to hear him finally play in my bar! I am calling everyone I know....